Dave McClain (drummer)

Dave McClain
McClain in 2010
Background information
Born	David Wayne McClain (1965-10-24) October 24, 1965 (age 59) Frankfurt am Main, West Germany
Origin	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Thrash metal, groove metal, heavy metal
Occupation	Drummer
Member of	Sacred Reich
Formerly of	S.A. Slayer, Juggernaut, Machine Head

David Wayne McClain (born October 24, 1965) is an American drummer. He is best known as the former drummer for the heavy metal band Machine Head. ^[1] He joined the band in 1995 and left the band in 2018 after 23 years in the band. ^[2] He replaced Chris Kontos ^[1] when the latter left shortly after their first album, Burn My Eyes . He was formerly a member of S.A. Slayer, Riot offshoot Narita, Turbin, Catalepsy, Murdercar (featuring producer Ross Robinson), Ministers of Anger (Dave Clemmons). He rejoined Sacred Reich in 2018, which he originally played for from 1991–1995, until October 2025 when it was announced he had left the band again. ^[3]

McClain has been a vegan since 2017. ^{[4] [5]}

Endorsements

He currently endorses Remo drumheads, Yamaha drums and hardware and Zildjian cymbals. He also uses Zildjian Dave McClain signature Drumsticks. He previously endorsed Tama, Pearl and DDrum.

Discography

McClain performing in 2009

Albums and EPs

S.A. Slayer

• Prepare to Die EP (Rainforest Records, 1983)
• Go for the Throat (Under den Linden Records, 1988)

Murdercar

• unreleased album (1990)

Sacred Reich

• A Question EP (Hollywood Records, 1991)
• Independent (Hollywood Records, 1993)
• Heal (Metal Blade Records 1996)
• Awakening (Metal Blade Records, 2019)

Machine Head

• The More Things Change... (Roadrunner Records, 1997)
• The Burning Red (Roadrunner Records, 1999)
• Supercharger (Roadrunner Records, 2001)
• Through the Ashes of Empires (Roadrunner Records, 2003)
• The Blackening (Roadrunner Records, 2007)
• Unto the Locust (Roadrunner Records, 2011)
• Bloodstone & Diamonds (Nuclear Blast, 2014)
• Catharsis (Nuclear Blast, 2018)

Compilations

• with Juggernaut

In the Blood of Virgins, Metal Massacre VII (Metal Blade Records, 1986)

• with Murdercar

Mirage of Blood, Metal Massacre X (Metal Blade Records, 1989)

• with Ministers of Anger

The Great Escape, Metal Massacre XI (Metal Blade Records, 1991)

References

1. Monger, James Christopher. "Biography: Machine Head". Allmusic . Retrieved December 29, 2014.
2. "Dave McClain". Avedis Zildjian Company. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
3. https://metalinjection.net/news/breakups/sacred-reich-parts-ways-with-longtime-drummer-dave-mcclain
4. "Dave McClain on Instagram (verified account)" . Retrieved September 1, 2018.
5. Flynn, Robb (December 28, 2017). "THE GENERAL JOURNALS: DIARLY OF A FRONTMAN… AND OTHER RAMBLINGS". Machinehead1.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018. Dave [McClain] has been vegan for the last seven months, [...]